Sékou Koné

Sékou Koné (born 3 February 2006) is a Malian professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Swiss club Lausanne-Sport, on loan from Manchester United. At international level, he has played for the Mali under-17 team.

Career A graduate of JMG Academy, Koné played for Bamako-based club Guidars. He played for Mali at the 2023 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations, where his performances helped Mali to a fourth-place finish, as well as earning Koné a place in the team of the tournament. He then appeared at the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup, at which Mali finished third thanks to a 3–0 win over Argentina in the third-place play-off. This led to interest from clubs around the world, including England's Manchester United, Crystal Palace and Wolverhampton Wanderers, and Austrian side Red Bull Salzburg.

Koné signed for Manchester United on 30 August 2024. On 3 February 2026, it was announced that Koné will join Swiss side Lausanne-Sport on loan. +

Koné rejoined Lausanne-Sport for another season on loan for the 2026/27 season.

Style of play Koné mainly plays as a defensive midfielder and is known for his ball-winning skills and stamina, which allow him to track back and disrupt opposition play, but he is also capable of getting involved in attacking moves.

His style of play has been compared to that of former Manchester City and Ivory Coast midfielder Yaya Touré by the African media due to his explosive and energetic displays.

International career On November 18, 2025, Kone scored a brace for Mali U23s in a friendly match against Indonesia U23s, salvaging a 2–2 draw.

Career statistics Club

Honours Mali U17 FIFA U-17 World Cup third place: 2023

Individual U-17 Africa Cup of Nations Best XI: 2023